How, where and when is SPINK3 bound and removed from mouse sperm?

Anabella R. Nicolli*, Carlos A.I. Alonso, Catalina Otamendi, Micaela Cerletti, Ansgar Poetsch, Vikram Sharma, Lucia Zalazar, Silvina Perez-Martinez, Andreina Cesari

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:p>Sperm capacitation in mammals is a fundamental requirement to acquire their fertilizing capacity. Little is known about the action mechanism of the molecules that prevent capacitation from occurring prematurely. These molecules are known as decapacitation factors (DFs) and they must be removed from the sperm surface for capacitation to occur successfully. Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 3 (SPINK3) has been proposed as one of these DFs. Here, we evaluate how this protein binds to mouse sperm and its removal kinetics. We describe that SPINK3 is capable of binding to the membrane of mature epididymal sperm through protein–lipid interactions, specifically to lipid rafts subcellular fraction. Moreover, cholera toxin subunit b (CTB) avoids SPINK3 binding. We observe that SPINK3 is removed from the sperm under<jats:italic> in vitro</jats:italic> capacitating conditions and by the uterine fluid from estrus females. Our <jats:italic>ex vivo</jats:italic> studies show the removal kinetics of this protein within the female tract, losing SPINK3 formerly from the apical region of the sperm in the uterus and later from the flagellar region within the oviduct. The presence of acrosome-reacted sperm in the female duct concurs with the absence of SPINK3 over its surface.</jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)251-266
Number of pages0
JournalReproduction
Volume163
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2022

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